Valve means for hydraulic door closer



Aug; 6, 1966 E. M. SPENCER 3,266,080

VALVE MEANS FOR HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER Filed April 15, 1964 n azsatsa 1C6Patented Aug 1966 3,266,080 VALVE MEANS FOR HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER ElbertM. Spencer, Wildwood, 11]., assiguor to The Illinois Lock Co., acorporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 359,919 7 Claims.(Cl. 16-52) This invention relates to hydraulic piston and cylinder typedoor closers and more particularly to a new and improved valve meanstherefor.

In a hydraulic piston and cylinder door closer, as for example, thatshown in Gray et al. Patent 3,078,499, a piston moves in a cylinderwhich has a hydraulic fluid therein. As the door is opened, the pistonis moved toward one end of the cylinder compressing a return spring.During this movement, the hydraulic fluid passes readily through oraround the piston. When the door is released, the piston return springurges the piston toward the other end of the cylinder, closing the door.A valve, as a check valve in the piston, closes causing the hydraulicfluid to flow only through a small metering passage, regulating thespeed of door closing. In most cases, the metering passage is on thepiston itself, and its size cannot be altered to change the door closingspeed. There are structures known in which the hydraulic fluid passageis through the cylinder wall and can be regulated by a valve. However,this construction is relatively expensive.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a new andimproved valve means for a hydraulic door closer.

It isa primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedvalve means for a hydraulic door closer which may be easily adjustedfrom the exterior of the door closer.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new andimproved valve means for a hydraulic door closer having means forselecting the size of an orifice through which the hydraulic fluid mustflow during return of the door closer, which means may be easilya-djustable from the exterior of the door closer.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal section view taken through a door and frame,and showing the door closer in use mounted to the frame and to anauxiliary door;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged section view of a portion of a doorcloser showing the valve means of this invention and illustrating theposition of the several components as the closer is moved to a doorclosing position;

. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to FIGURE 2 andillustrating the position of the several components as the closer ismoved to a door opening position;

FIGURE 4 is a section view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the ratchet disc of the valvemeans of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many dilferentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will bepointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 the door closer of thisinvention is shown mounted in a door frame generally indicated 12. Astorm door 14 is hinged to the frame at 16. The door closer 10 includesa cylinder 18, a mounting means at one end of the cylinder for securingthe closer to the door frame and a piston rod 22 at the opposite endwhich is secured to the storm door 14 by means of door bracket 24.

The cylinder 18 is a substantially tubular circular cylinder and thepiston rod 22 is slidably mounted in the cylinder on an axis generallycoincident with the axis of the cylinder. The end of the rod nearest themounting means 20 is provided with a piston 26 which includes the valvemeans of this invention. A spring 28 normally bears against the backside of the piston and urges the piston toward the mounting means 20 ora position of closure wherein the door 14 is maintained closed. Theinterior of the cylinder 18 is partially filled with a hydraulic fluid(not shown).

In operation, as the door 14 is swung about its hinge, the rod 22 slidesoutward relative to the cylinderin opposition to the spring 28.Hydraulic fluid flows freely, in a manner to be explained in detaillater, from that side of the piston where the spring is located to theopposite side of the piston. When the rod reaches a point wherein theforce of opening the door is overcome by the force of the compressedspring, the spring urges the piston toward the other end of the cylinderin opposition to the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid then travelsback through the piston in a controlled fashion, as will be explained indetail later, to cause the door to return to a position of closure at acontrolled rate.

The piston 26 incorporates the valve means of this.

invention. The piston includes a piston washer 30 which is fixed to areduced or stud end 22a of the rod 22. The washer is provided with acircular flanged end 32 having a plurality of fluid passages 34 therein,an intermediate reduced diameter boss portion 36 and an inwardly facingreduced diameter mounting boss portion 38. Mounted about the outerperiphery of the mounting boss 38 concentric to the rod is an orificedisc 40. Orifice disc 40 is a washer-like disc having an inner diameterslightly larger than the outer diameter of the boss 38 so that theorifice disc is free to rotate relative to the washer 30 and, therefore,the rod 22. The periphery of the orifice disc is provided with a pair ofopposed inwardly facing arms 42 which extend away from the washer 30generally perpendicular to the face of the orifice disc and parallel tothe axis of the cylinder only slightly spaced from the inner wall of thecylinder. The face of the orifice disc is provided with a plurality ofdifferent sized fluid passages 44 of different diameter, such as 44a,44b

and 440 and so on disposed in a ring concentric to the rod.

Positioned between the orifice disc and the washer 30 is an O-ring 46which seals the gap 29 between the pis-,

ton structure and the inner wall of the cylinder as the piston moves toand fro withinthe cylinder. When the rod is returning to a position ofclosure and the piston and rod are moving in the direction of the arrowA in FIGURE 2 (to the left in the drawing), the O-ring moves, under theinfluence of the hydraulic pressure, against the orifice disc and sealsthe gap between the arms and the inner wall of the cylinder to preventhydraulic fluid from passing through the gap. When the piston rod ismoving to a position of extension wherein the door is being opened, asindicated by the arrow B in FIGURE 3 (to the right in the drawing), theO-ring moves against the face of the washer 30 under the influence ofthe hydraulic pressure to seal the gap between the periphery of thewasher and the inner wall of the cylinder.

Positioned about the stud end of the rod inwardly of the washer andorifice disc is the valve disc 50. The valve disc is also fixed to thestud end of the rod so that both the washer 30 and the valve disc 50rotate with the rod 22 and relative to the orifice disc 40 when the rodis rotated. The valve disc is provided with a single elongated arcuateslot 52 located on a radius which is in concentric alignment with theseveral orifice passages 44. The valve disc is further provided with aninwardly projecting boss 54 having radially extending facialdeformations forming an indexing surface 56 affording an indexing meansfor insuring alignment of one of the openlugs 44 with the slot 52 toprovide a fluid passage through the orifice and valve discs.

Spaced inwardly from the valve disc is the disc 58 which has anoutwardly projecting boss 60 opposing the boss 54 of the valve disc andan indexing surface (not shown) for mating with the indexing surface 56.Disc 58 has an inner diameter which is slightly larger than the outerdiameter of the rod so that the rod may rotate relative to disc 58.Opposed notches 62 are provided in the periphery of the ratchet disc forreceiving the arms of the orifice disc. The notches 62 are slightlylarger than the cross sectional dimension of the arms 42 to permit fluidflow through disc 58 to the opposite side of the piston.

The face of disc 58 opposite the boss60 is provided with a pair ofoutwardly projecting spaced studs 66. The free end of the spring 28 isheld between these studs. As the rod is rotated to turn the valve disc52, disc 58 remains fixed relative to the rod due to the slipfit of thedisc 58 relative to the rod as well. as the force of the spring 28 whichtends to prevent rotational movement of the disc. Because the orificedisc 40 is joined to the disc 58 by the arms 42 it too is held againstrotation by the spring 28.

The free end of the piston rod is slotted at 64 at a point outside thecylinder so that it is engageable by suitable means, such as a screwdriver. By engaging a screw driver in the slot and turning the rod, thevalve means of this invention is adjusted to meter the flow of fluid andadjust the rate of return of the rod. Turning of the rod causes thewasher 30 and valve disc 50 to turn relative to disc 58 which, throughengagement with the orifice disc arms 42 holds the orifice discstationary relative to the rod and the valve disc to bring a selectedopening 44 opposite the slot 52. Depending upon whether a faster orslower rate of return is desired, a larger or smaller sized opening 44will be positioned opposite the slot 52. The indexing surfaces on thevalve disc and disc 58, which are continually urged together by spring28, are appropriately mated so that seating is accomplished only whenone of the openings 44 is opposite the central portion of the slot 52 inthe valve disc.

In operation, as the door 14 swings open and closed and the rod moves toand fro in the cylinder, hydraulic fluid will pass from one side of thepiston 26 to the other through the openings 34 in the washer, openings44 in the slot 52 in the valve and through the spaces between the notch62 and the arms 42. When the rod is traveling to a position of extensionwherein the door is being opened, as indicated by the arrow B in FIGURE3, the O- ring 46 moves against the inner face of the washer 30. Thispermits the hydraulic fluid to flow around the piston between the arms42 and the inner periphery of the cylinder 18. The O-ring blocks thecontinuation of this flow so that the fluid is diverted around theO-ring and is shunted through the several openings 34 in the washer 30.

When the rod is traveling to a position of return as indicated by thearrow A in FIGURE 2, the O-ring moves against the outer face of theorifice disc. After the O- ring moves against the orifice disc continuedmovement of the rod to the return position will cause the orifice discto move against the valve disc. Hydraulic fluid passing through openings34 and 44 will then be confronted with the valve disc 50. The valve discis provided with the single arcuate slot 52 so that the amount of fluidpassing through the slot 52 can be metered by the selection of anappropriately sized opening 44 opposite the slot 52 to change the rateof return of the rod. Once past the valve disc 50, the fluid flowsthrough those portions of the slot 62 not occupied by the arms 42 to theopposite side of the piston.

The valve means of this invention affords an externally actuatable meansfor adjusting the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic doorcloser, while retaining the basic simplicity of construction normallyfound in such devices. The valve means is incorporated as a part of thepiston and is comprised of relatively simple disclike components whichmay be easily manufactured and assembled. Adjustment is accomplished bymeans of a screw driver or similar instrument inserted in the notchedend of the piston rod for turning the same, a relatively simpleoperation. Observation of door movement will determine whether theselected orifice 44, which has been placed opposite the slot 52,satisfactorily meters the flow of hydraulic fluid to obtain the desiredrate of return. If not, then the rod 22 need only be turned once againor until the proper one of the several openings 44 is positionedopposite the slot 52 to obtain the optimum rate of return. Thus, thevalve means of this invention solves a problem in the hydraulic doorcloser art which solution involves simplicity of structure as well asoperation thereby enhancing the reliability and economy of the device.

I claim:

1. An adjustable valve means for a hydraulic door closer having acylinder containing hydraulic fluid, a rod in said cylinder slidable inthe cylinder between a position of extension and a return position ofclosure, and a spring urging the rod toward the position of closure,comprising: first and second valve members mounted about said rod formovement relative to each other, one of said valve members being mountedfor movement with said rod, said first valve member having fluid passagemeans therein and said second valve member having a plurality ofdifferent sized fluid passage openings therein; and cooperating indexingmeans associated with said first and second valve members for aligningthe openings of said members so that turning of said rod will move saidmembers relative to each other to align said first member passage meanswith a second member opening to adjust the rate of flow of hydraulicfluid through said valve members as said rod moves in opposition to saidfluid to the position of closure.

2. The valve means of claim 1 wherein said valve members are discsconcentrically mounted on said rod and said discs rotate relative toeach other when said rod is rotated to align the openings in the discs.

3. The valve means of claim 1 wherein said first valve member has oneenlarged opening and said second valve member has a plurality ofdifferent sized openings each of which is smaller than the opening insaid first valve member.

4. A hydraulic door closer, comprising: a cylinder having hydraulicfluid therein; a rod in said cylinder mounted for movement betweenpositions of extension and a position of closure; a spring in saidcylinder normally urging said rod to one end of said cylinder to aposition of closure; a piston on said rod having means for adjusting therate of return of said rod to a position of closure in opposition tosaid fluid, said piston including a first washer having a flange and aninwardly projecting boss portion and secured to said rod about said bossportion; a first valve disc loosely mounted about said boss portion andhaving a plurality of different sized fluid passage openingstherethrough, said first valve disc being further provided with a pairof inwardly facing arms, a second valve disc fixed to said rod adjacentsaid first valve disc provided with a single fluid passage therethroughand further provided with an inwardly projecting boss having radiallyextending facial deformations forming an indexing surface thereon, and athird disc loosely mounted about said rod spaced from said second valvedisc and provided with an outwardly facing boss having an indexingsurface mating with said second valve disc indexing surface, said thirddisc being fixed to one end of said spring and having means forreceiving the arms for said first valve disc so that turning of said rodturns said second valve disc relative to said first valve disc to placethe fluid passage in said second valve disc opposite one of the fluidpassages of the first valve disc to adjust the rate of flow of hydraulicfluid through said valve member as said rod returns to the position ofclosure and thereby adjust the rate of return of said rod.

5. In a hydraulic door closer, including a cylinder adapted to containhydraulic fluid, a rod in said cylinder slidable between a position ofextension and a position of return and a spring urging said rod towardthe position of return, valve means for adjusting the rate of return ofsaid rod, comprising: a piston including a group of first valve membersfixed to the rod for rotation therewith and a group of second valvemembers loosely associated with the rod to be non-responsive to rotationof the rod, said valve members having means establishing fluid passagestherethrough with one of said members having fluid passages of differentsizes for adjusting the rate or" fluid flow through the piston bypositioning said one member so that selected fluid passages are inalignment with the fluid passages in the other members; means securingsaid spring to one of the second group of valve members to hold thatgroup fixed as the rod and first group of valve members is rotated andindexing means for aligning the openings of the several members as therod is rotated including cooperating indexing surfaces on one of themembers of said first group and one of the members of said second group.

6. The hydraulic door closer of claim 5 wherein the members of thesecond group are held against rotation by finger means bridging a memberof the first group and extending into engagement with the member of thesecond group which is secured by said spring.

7. In a hydraulic door closer including a cylinder adapted to containhydraulic fluid, a rod in said cylinder slidable between a position ofextension and a position of return, and a spring unging said rod towardthe return position, valve means for adjusting the rate of flow ofhydraulic fluid, comprising: a piston of first and second relativelyrotatable valve members having means forming a fluid passagetherethrough, one of said valve members having openings of differentsizes therein constructed and arranged to be generally aligned with anopening in the other member to change the flow of fluid through saidpiston, said first member connected to said rod for rotational movementtherewith as said rod is rotated, said second valve member joined tomeans having locking surfaces in engagement with said spring and heldthereby against rotational movement with said rod whereby the rate offlow of hydraulic fluid through said piston may be adjusted by rota-tingsaid rod; and indexing means associated with said first and second valvemembers for maintaining alignment of the fluid passages in said membersafter the rod is rotated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,426 2/1891Bryon 188-96 1,539,323 5/1925 Neubert et a1. 25l54 X 1,965,806 7/1934Riggins 1652 2,949,625 8/ 1960 Guyer 1652 2,953,810 9/1960 Hall l6-523,057,003 10/1962 Sogoian l652 3,057,004 10/1962 Sogoian 1652 EDWARD C.ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, PATRICK A. CLIFFORD,

Examiners. P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ADJUSTABLE VALVE MEANS FOR A HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER HAVING ACYLINDER CONTAINING HYDRAULIC FLUID, A ROD IN SAID CYLINDER SLIDABLE INTHE CYLINDER BETWEEN A POSITION OF EXTENSION AND A RETURN POSITION OFCLOSURE, AND A SPRING URGING THE ROD TOWARD THE POSITION OF CLOSURE,COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND VALVE MEMBER MOUNTED ABOUT SAID ROD FORMOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS BEING MOUNTEDFOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID ROD, SAID FIRST VALVE MEMBER HAVING FLUID PASSAGEMEANS THEREIN AND SAID SECOND VALVE MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OFDIFFERENT SIZED FLUID PASSAGE OPENINGS THEREIN; AND COOPERATING INDEXINGMEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND VALVE MEMBERS FOR ALIGNINGTHE OPENINGS OF SAID MEMBERS SO THAT TURNING OF SAID ROD WILL MOVE SAIDMEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO ALIGN SAID FIRST MEMBER PASSAGE MEANSWITH A SECOND MEMBER OPENING TO ADJUST THE RATE OF FLOW OF HYDRAULICFLUID THROUGH SAID VALVE MEMBERS AS SAID ROD MOVES IN OPPOSITION TO SAIDFLUID THE POSITION OF CLOSURE.